First dental school in New York in 50 years to open this fall

New school: The Touro College of Dental Medicine at New York Medical College is set to be the first dental school in New York when it opens in the fall.

Valhalla, N.Y. — Touro College and University System announced April 19 it is set to open a new dental school — the first in the state in 50 years.

Touro College of Dental Medicine at New York Medical College joins the Touro School of Health Sciences, Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, Touro College of Pharmacy and the New York Medical College in New York State.

Dr. Kadish

"As New York State's first new dental school in nearly half a century and the only dental school in the Hudson Valley, the Touro College of Dental Medicine at NYMC will fill a void in dental education and improve access to oral health care, particularly in underserved rural and urban communities throughout the region," said Alan Kadish, M.D., president of the Touro College and University System.

Touro has appointed Dr. Jay P. Goldsmith as the founding dean of the dental school. Dr. Goldsmith was formerly a professor, program director, and deputy chief in NYMC's Department of Dental Medicine.

The dental school will include a four-year pre-doctoral program for students, a continuing education program for practicing dentists, and a 132-chair community dental clinic focused on providing patients in underserved communities in the Hudson Valley and the Bronx with affordable and quality treatment.

In the school's inaugural year, set to begin in the fall of 2016, anticipated enrollment is 110 students. When at full capacity, the school will include approximately 440 students.

The school, according to a press release, will also conduct a range of research efforts including: research focused on reducing the cost of effective care; population outcomes-based research concentrated on interventions; and translational research that harnesses scientific discoveries to produce new devices and treatment options for patients.

The Commission on Dental Accreditation has granted the program the status of "initial accreditation."